The cornucopia was a symbol of plenty long before it landed on greeting cards and paper napkins. Although it now makes frequent appearances on Thanksgiving tables, the traditional horn-shaped basket originated in Greek mythology. As one story goes, Amaltheia, the nymph who raised Zeus, filled a broken goat’s horn with food and drink for the insatiable god. No matter how much he ate, the horn always replenished itself, and the horn of plenty was born.

You can create your own arrangement that evokes the shape of a cornucopia without using a basket. Twist the bottom of a large paper bag to resemble the traditional horn shape. Line the bottom with some colorful leaves from your yard, then fill the opening with fruits and vegetables. During dinner, entertain your tablemates with these factoids:

The first-ever ice cream cone was dubbed “the World’s Fair Cornucopia” when it debuted in 1904 at the World’s Fair in St. Louis.

In 2002 the Utah 5 a Day nutrition program erected a gigantic steel-and-canvas cornucopia that held 30,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to teach the importance of adding five servings to your daily diet.

You can compete in the Miss Cornucopia pageant or play in the Cornucopia Cup soccer tournament when you attend the Cornucopia Days festival, in Kent, Washington, held each July.

Last year FTD sold plenty of its cornucopia bouquets at Thanksgiving—more than 8,000 of them.